Multiplayer

[EUBanana]

Hi

I've been kinda lurking on here to see if there any more patches in the pipeline to make the multiplayer game more robust. It's been a looooooong time since the last patch, and we did try that multiplayer but it wasn't really any better. But I lurk anyway as it's a good game and I'm kinda itching to lock horns with my Kaiser friend.

You can connect OK but it's just too flaky to actually play as within a couple of turns something will go wrong, and given the size of the game, it kinda makes it unplayable.

It seems that most people play it single player, I see a lot of AI improvements and such - but I was wondering, is there any chance the networking stuff will get tightened up at some point?

[hattrick]

Hi

I've been kinda lurking on here to see if there any more patches in the pipeline to make the multiplayer game more robust. It's been a looooooong time since the last patch, and we did try that multiplayer but it wasn't really any better. But I lurk anyway as it's a good game and I'm kinda itching to lock horns with my Kaiser friend.

You can connect OK but it's just too flaky to actually play as within a couple of turns something will go wrong, and given the size of the game, it kinda makes it unplayable.

It seems that most people play it single player, I see a lot of AI improvements and such - but I was wondering, is there any chance the networking stuff will get tightened up at some point?

This is a good question, I too have tirelessly tried multiplayer and there was always a problem during a session. Its close and to leave it in the stage it is in is a waste in my opinion. Why this does not get the attention it deserves is beyond me. Is it or is it not the multiplayer community in games that keeps the longevity of the game going. If we had a working option for human to human play it might even start a modding community.

The game was created as a board game and ported to the pc, it was meant to be played human against human and yet it does not have that potential now, why not complete the process?

You dont think enough people would be interested because its TCIP, is the game fun and enjoyable to play? If that answer is yes then why would it be hard for people to make time to play it?

I believe any game without human to human play within six months of purchase will be on a shelf collecting dust. It is my opinion this game deserves better than that, but the ultimate choice is youres and not mine..

Here's hoping the correct choice is chosen..

[Chris Ferrous]

So what tends to go wrong during multi-player? And is that 2 or 4 player mode?

Also, what happens if a player drops out? Can the AI be made to takeover?

[calvinus]

So what tends to go wrong during multi-player? And is that 2 or 4 player mode?

Some problems arise sometimes when army reactions and interferences take place. In such cases, you must start again from the latest save.

Also, what happens if a player drops out? Can the AI be made to takeover?

AI replaces him.

[Chris Ferrous]

AI replacement of dropped players is a very strong recommendation to try a 4-player game. I'm very pleased to hear that feature is there!

In my experience with other games too many players get bored far too easily or drop out as soon as their tactics go a little bit wrong, thus wrecking the game.

So how does it work? The other three players would agree the fourth player was a drop-out and then they hit a certain key?

[EUBanana]

It's not merely reactions, it can desynch very easily with the other player, and if they desynch when one thinks he's pressed end turn and the other guy is still waiting for an end turn, thats game over, unless someone drops.

It's not just that, but in my experience thats the big one.

I can get out 1-3 turns in multiplayer on average but then something somewhere goes wrong. Needless to say after 1-3 turns I'm just getting into it, too.

[calvinus]

So how does it work? The other three players would agree the fourth player was a drop-out and then they hit a certain key?

When the host looses connection with one (human) client, AI automatically replaces the client player that has abandoned the game session. The loss of connection is checked by a time out: the host pings the clients every x seconds, when one client does not respond with a "pong" for y times (because the game quitted or any other reason), the host checks the loss of connection and performs the AI replacement.

[Chris Ferrous]

Calvinus

Thank you for the explanation.

That all sounds fairly standard and eminently sensible.

[EUBanana]

In my experience with other games too many players get bored far too easily or drop out as soon as their tactics go a little bit wrong, thus wrecking the game.

Whereas right now people desynch and are forced to quit within 3 turns max, having much the same effect.

A great shame as the game is almost there.

[NefariousKoel]

So.. is this sync issue being looked at?

Didn't it start happening after one of the latest updates or did I interpret that wrong?

[06 Maestro]

So.. is this sync issue being looked at?

Didn't it start happening after one of the latest updates or did I interpret that wrong?

I am still in he market for an MP game. If you want to give it a shot, just let me know.

I was waiting for someone to take up my offer for a game. In the meantime I have warped back to the Napoleonic days. I can beam back and forth if there is a reason to...let me know.

[NefariousKoel]

I am still in he market for an MP game. If you want to give it a shot, just let me know.

I was waiting for someone to take up my offer for a game. In the meantime I have warped back to the Napoleonic days. I can beam back and forth if there is a reason to...let me know.

I'd consider it if the multiplayer was steady. But this thread unsettles me.

[06 Maestro]

I'd consider it if the multiplayer was steady. But this thread unsettles me.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. To be clear, I had run into problems myself. However, I know I can play one of the smaller scenario's without problem. I would have a bad situation creep into a 14 scenario at various points-sometimes just before the ending.

I would suggest trying a small game like Serbia. That would not take long. After getting warmed up with that then we can go for a bigger one.

It has a couple of months since I did an MP game. I do remember that frequent saves is a goo idea.